dil-e-mahjur ko taskin ka saman na mila shahr-e-jaanan mein hamein maskan-e-jaanan na mila kucha-gardi mein katin shauq ki kitni raaten phir bhi us sham-e-tamanna ka shabistan na mila puchhte manzil-e-salma ki khabar hum jis se wadi-e-najd mein aisa koi insan na mila yun to har rahguzar par the sitare raqsan jis ki hasrat thi magar wo mah-e-taban na mila lala-o-gul the bahut aam chaman mein lekin dhundte the jise wo sarw-e-khiraman na mila jis ke pardon se machalti ho wahi nikhat-e-shauq be-khudi ki qasam aisa koi aiwan na mila bakht-e-be-dar kahan jalwa-e-dil-dar kahan khwab mein bhi hamein wo ghuncha-e-khandan na mila bekasi tishna-labi dard-e-halawat-talabi chandni-raat mein bhi chashma-e-haiwan na mila yun to har dar pe hi kahte nazar aae daman khinchte naz se jis ko wahi daman na mila kis ke dar par na kiye sajde nigahon ne magar hae taqdir wo ghaarat-gar-e-iman na mila kaun se baam ko rah rah ke na dekha lekin nigah-e-shauq ko wo mah-e-khiraman na mila dar-e-jaanan pe fida karte dil-o-jaan 'akhtar' wae bar-haal-e-dil-o-jaan dar-e-jaanan na mila